Who was Johan Cruijff?
Born Hendrik Johannes Cruijff in Amsterdam on April 25, 1947, he practically grew up next to Ajax's stadium. He joined the Ajax youth academy at the age of 10 and made his debut for Ajax's senior team at 17.
As a player, Cruyff was an attacking midfielder or forward known for his incredible dribbling skills, speed, vision, and intelligence on the pitch. He even had a move named after him, the "Cruijff Turn." During his time in Ajax (1964-1973 and 1981-1983), the club enjoyed a golden era, winning 8 Eredivisie titles, 3 consecutive European Cups (now the Champions League) from 1971 to 1973, and the Intercontinental Cup in 1972. He scored over 200 goals for Ajax in all competitions!
In 1973, he made a then-world record transfer to FC Barcelona. Nicknamed "El Salvador" (The Savior), he helped Barcelona win their first La Liga title in 14 years in his first season. Cruijff was also recognized as the best player in the world, winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or three times: in 1971, 1973, and 1974.
He became a highly successful coach, first with Ajax (winning the European Cup Winners' Cup) and then with Barcelona (1988-1996) winning 4 consecutive La Liga titles (1991-1994) and the club's first-ever European Cup in 1992.
Johan Cruyff sadly passed away on March 24, 2016, at the age of 68, after a battle with lung cancer. However, his legacy as one of the greatest and most influential figures in football history remains undiminished.